Cirrus Gallery is pleased to present SUMMER COOL, a group exhibition highlighting the seminal Los Angeles artists, John Altoon, Billy Al Bengston, Llyn Foulkes, Ed Moses, Craig Kauffman, Ed Kienholz, Ken Price and Ed Ruscha. Their early careers were launched at the influential Ferus Gallery (1957-1966), subject of the recent documentary film, The Cool School.
Cirrus quickly established itself as a unique and unconventional institution in 1970, functioning simultaneously as a fine arts press, publisher, and art gallery, focusing on the publication and exhibition of work by young California artists.
SUMMER COOL contains works by Edward Ruscha and Ed Moses that highlight some of the experimental aspects of California art: Moses’ Broken Wedge series, comprising seven lithographs printed on various super-thin tissues layered and pressed together, revealing images of intricate lines and forms; the iconic Hollywood Sign prints of Ed Ruscha, printed with beluga caviar and Pepto Bismol.
These work, as well as others by Ken Price, Bruce Nauman, and Joe Goode were exhibited by Cirrus for the first time in Europe at the 1973 Art Basel – New Tendencies. The gallery was perhaps the first from California to participate in Art Basel.
SUMMER COOL runs from July 12th to August 9th, 2008.